Answer Me This ATS...

How could I possibly be

Off Topic

in my own thread?

I mean, it's my thread, right?

I offer you no specific examples, just curious.

Because if you post an "off topic" reply to your original topic it is obviously ... off topic.


Seems pretty simple to me, but maybe I am misunderstanding something....

...any number of reasons...

...and if anyone is given an 'Off-Topic' within their own thread the best way of finding out why that may have been would be to contact the Staff Member who gave it...


I've given people OTs before within their own thread...but thats normally because they have gotten involved in some form of tit for tat personalised flamewar with another poster. So, I give an OT to both (or worse).

Starting the thread doesn't give anyone the Immunity Idol...it doesn't keep them safe from the ATS Tribal Council...

reply to post by Signals


most probally because you rose to troll bait

i was alerted by one of my online bots flagged by the term " troll " so here i am...




On a side note, i too was once tolled regarding being off-topic in my own thread, so after i headbutt the wall several times i realized that he/she was correct. Since i was the author of a particular thread i needed to be precise and on the ball with my interaction.

Good Luck in the future, but i somehow doubt you will ever become a full blown troll member....

reply to post by Signals


If the OP of your topic is "Alien lands on the white house lawn", and you decide to then engage in a conversation about ducks, then you are off topic.

Its not rocket science, is it?

reply to post by neformore


I disagree, maybe the ducks gathered in a nearby pond and tried to warn us? Then it would be on topic :p

Sometimes we use the "Off-Topic" feature instead of other options like the "Manners" and "Extreme T&C Violation" removals for violations that need to go, but are not necessarily as serious as full-blown warnings.

That can be anything from side conversations to personal commentary to name-calling to profanity and so on.

Sometimes members complain when they receive off-topic warnings for posts that really should have been mannered or x-posted or whatnot.

If they insist such posts aren't technically off-topic, I suppose we could give out the full-blown warnings instead.

reply to post by neformore


what if the ducks refered to were alien ducks sunning them selves on the white house lawn ?

I think the question was answered.

People's personal issues are only sidetracking it.